This 6-foot-1 freshman made an instant impact for the Whip-Purs, leading the team in scoring at 10.5 points a game and rebounding with an average of 7.0 a game. Made Fox Valley all-conference team, the all-tournament team at Dundee-Crown over Christmas, and had four double-doubles. "She improved as the season progressed especially on the defensive side of the ball," Hampshire coach Mike Featherly said. "Kelby is an intelligent player that strives to get better. I look forward to see her progress over the next three years with her work ethic."

Kyra Cabusao Jacobs

A 23-point game against Glenbard North highlighted a breakthrough season for the Golden Eagles' 5-foot-5 sophomore guard. Cabusao led Jacobs in scoring averaging 14.1 points a game. She also averaged 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Made the Fox Valley all-conference team. "Kyra brings so much to our team," Jacobs coach Joe Benoit said. "She does an incredible job distributing the ball from the point position, and also scoring when we need it. She has an incredible ability to score around the rim and expanded her game to the three-point line. She's going to be fun to watch the next two years along with the rest of our young core of players."

Anna Davern St. Charles North

This 6-foot-1 senior forward and two-time All-Area selection led the North Stars in scoring at 14.3 points per game. Also averaged 5.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 steals and .9 blocks. Made the all-tournament team at Hoffman Estates over Thanksgiving and Dundee-Crown at Christmas. Earned second straight all-conference selection. Scored over 20 points four times including a career-high 32. "Without question, our best player, program leader on and off the court," North Stars coach Mike Tomczak said. "Irreplaceable. We will miss her more than words can describe."

Skylar Doby West Aurora

A repeat All-Area selection, this 5-foot-4 senior guard and all-Upstate Eight Valley selection was one of the area leaders in assists at 4.5 a game. Doby averaged 9.5 points while shooting 43 percent from the field and 68 percent at the line for the 19-8 Blackhawks. Retiring West Aurora coach Connie Siljendahl said Doby was an "extension of the coach," on the floor, somebody who her teammates looked to when the games got tight. "A leader on and off the court for us," Siljendahl said. "Go-to player."

Mariel Franco St. Edward

A 5-foot-8 senior guard who helped St. Edward reach the Class 2A state tournament as a junior, Franco was the team's second-leading scorer this season. Averaged 10.4 points, 6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.3 steals a game. Needing to beat Walther Christian in its final Metro Suburban game for a conference championship, Franco scored 26 points. Made the all-conference team and will play next year at Elgin Community College. "A dynamic player, and one our opponents always needed to be worried about. Mariel worked hard in the off-season to improve her scoring both inside and outside the paint," St. Edward coach Michelle Dawson said. "She was a force on the offensive boards and disrupted her opponents with her pressure defense. Mariel always knows how to break the tension at practice and during games making her coaches and teammates laugh."

Erin Golden Batavia

Only 5-foot-7, this sophomore guard led Batavia in rebounding -- and was one of the top rebounders in the area -- with an average of 8.4 a game with her tremendous nose for the ball, hustle and determination to get the rebound before her opponent. Also topped Batavia in scoring at 11 points per game shooting 41 percent from the field and 66 percent at the line. Golden was Batavia's leader in assists (2.4 per game) and steals (1.9). "There's some kids who are just playmakers," Batavia coach Kevin Jensen said. "Put the ball in their hands. She's that. I don't know how she does it. She's not very big. She's not unbelievably fast but she gets by people. She has a nice little touch shooting over bigger players. The sky is the limit for her."

Kayla Hare Bartlett

Headed to Missouri-St. Louis, this senior guard leaves Bartlett as the school's all-time leader in steals and 3-point baskets. Only Lindsay Schrader and Jacki Gulczynski scored more points. Hare, a two-time All-Area selection, went over 1,000 career points in Bartlett's season-opening tournament and didn't stop the rest of the year, leading the area in scoring at 19.4 points per game on 39 percent shooting from the field and 79 percent at the line. Also averaged 5 rebounds, 4.2 steals and 2.2 assists a game for the UEC Valley champion Hawks. "Simply put, Kayla is special," Hawks first-year coach Brad Hunt said. "She affects games on both ends. Kayla not only frustrates opposing defenses with her ability to shoot from the outside and also finish drives, but she also wreaks havoc on the defensive end. She just has a knack for jumping those passing lanes. She has ability to guard both bigs and guards."

Stephanie Hart Geneva

This four-year starter who hit the game-winning shot in last year's Class 4A state championship game, Hart capped her stellar career with her best season yet. Headed to Lewis University for college, this 5-foot-8 senior guard is a two-time All-Area selection who shot the ball great all season -- including 46.2 percent from the 3-point arc and 82 percent at the line. Averaged 10.2 points, 2.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 4.1 rebounds a game. "Steph does everything for us," Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. "She is for sure the smartest basketball player we have. She just holds us together, she's our glue, she keeps us calm. You can never tell on Steph's demeanor if she has 25 points or zero points or 25 turnovers or zero turnovers. She just has great composure and our kids work off that."

Tori Henning Aurora Christian

A two-time All-Area selection, this 5-foot-7 junior guard went over 1,000 points in January. She'll head into her senior season with a chance to become the school's all-time leading scorer, currently with 1,091 for third all-time (the record is 1,545). Henning averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.0 steals a game. She also has the fourth most rebounds at Aurora Christian. Two-time All-Area and all-conference selection. "After having a breakout sophomore season, Tori had another great year as a junior," Aurora Christian coach Burney Wilkie said. "Offensively, along with Alexandra Fry, she carried the load for us. With another big season next year, she will have the potential to break the program record for career points. Tori is a really special scorer and great passer."

Alyssa Iverson Harvest Christian

A repeat member of the All-Area team, Iverson led the Lions in scoring at 18.6 points a game and also steals (4.5) and assists (4.0) on 40 percent shooting from the field and 68 percent at the line. Made 66 shots from the 3-point line while leading her team to a Class 2A sectional championship with 25 points against Winnebago. Scored 33 points in a win over Walther Christian in the title game at Lisle's Christmas tournament. "Alyssa is a complete player that can do it all," Lions coach Jeff Boldog said. "She can score at will. She has been outstanding this season. She is an extremely gifted athlete who has a great mind for the game. She has been clutch for us throughout the whole season. She sacrificed her scoring numbers to get more players involved, and it made a big impact on the team."

Delani Kosner Aurora Central Catholic

This 5-foot-8 sophomore point guard improved as much as anyone in the area, winning team MVP after leading the team in scoring (12.3 points per game), assists (2.4), free throw percentage (71.7) and steals (2.9). Also blocked 32 shots and hit 33 from the 3-point arc. Made Metro Suburban all-conference and all-tournament at Marian Catholic Holiday Tournament. "She had to take over the point guard position, a position she had never played," Aurora Central Catholic coach Mark Fitzgerald said. "She is well on her way to becoming our greatest player we have ever had at ACC."

Madison Mallory Geneva

A Youngstown State recruit, Mallory shined in her two years at Geneva after transferring from Montini. A 6-foot-2 forward/center who can step outside and shoot 3s or score down low. Averaged 8.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks a game, shooting 75 percent at the line and 33 percent from behind the arc. "Madison is a great story," Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. "She transfers to us and I think both us and Montini would say it was a perfect move for her. She fit in perfectly with our kids. She is another kid that spends a lot of time in the gym working on her game and it shows."

Jamie Martens Kaneland

Nobody impacted a game or made her teammates better quite like this senior point guard, who led Kaneland in rebounding, assists and steals. Martens averaged 12.6 points a game plus 6.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 2.4 steals while shooting 46 percent from the field, 43 percent from the 3-point arc and 78.3 at the line. Set Kaneland's career record in assists while going over 400 assists and 400 rebounds from her point guard position in only three seasons of varsity basketball. "She has a high basketball IQ," Kaneland coach Ernie Colombe said. "We count on her. She's a leader. She's a very smart player."

Elena Porrata Harvest Christian

A transfer to Harvest Christian from Palatine, this 5-foot-5 junior guard drilled 68 shots from the 3-point arc including three in a hard-fought supersectional loss to eventual 2A state champion Marshall. She averaged 11 points a game, second-best on the 28-5 Lions, hitting 71 percent of her free throws and 35 percent of her 3-pointers. Also averaged 3.3 assists and 3 steals a game. "Elena has been such a huge asset to our team this year," Harvest coach Jeff Boldog said. "As we were getting deeper in the season, Elena really came into her own and stepped up her game. She was a key player in our run, hitting some big shots and using her quickness to drive down the lane and get easy buckets or dish it off to other players on the team. She was such a great leader on the court as well. Her hard work and drive helped elevate her teammates' play around her."

Sara Rosenfeldt St. Charles East

A three-time All-Area selection who leaves St. Charles East as the school's all-time scoring and rebounding leader, Rosenfeldt averaged 16.1 points on 42.1 percent shooting from the field and 67.6 percent at the line. A three-time All-Area selection. Her 11.6 rebounds a game led the area. Also added 2 assists and 2 steals a game. Will play college basketball at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. "Sara's work ethic, passion, and commitment to the game is what makes her so special," first-year Saints coach Aubree Schuett said. "No doubt that Sara has put the necessary work in these past four years to earn this honor. She is a great role model to younger players and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to coach her this past season."

Kathryn Schmidt Burlington Central

Already a two-time All-Area selection who averaged 16.3 points and 7.2 rebounds as a freshman, Schmidt continued her stellar play for the 27-4, Kishwaukee River Conference champion Rockets. Conference Player of the Year. A 6-foot forward, Schmidt scored 31 points against Larkin, 25 against McHenry, and 21 vs. both Richmond-Burton and LaSalle-Peru while finishing with a 16.0 scoring average on 47 percent shooting from 2-point range and 69 percent at the line. Also averaged 7.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks a game. Heads into her junior season with 984 points and 457 rebounds. "She's a real nice player with a quick release," Burlington Central coach Mark Smith said.

Lexie Sinclair Bartlett

This freshman point guard made an instant impact helping Bartlett capture the Upstate Eight Valley championship. Averaged 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.4 steals a game. All-conference selection. "As a freshman, Lexie performed like an upperclassmen," Bartlett coach Brad Hunt said. "She is a dual threat by being able to shoot well from the outside and drive to the basket. As my point guard, Lexie handled and directed our offense with precision. What I really like about Lexie is that her basketball IQ is off the charts. Lexie doesn't get rattled and it is very calming to see her play with such composure. Defensively, Lexie has very quick hands. Lexie is going to make big dents in the record books over the next three years."

Katie Sowa Cary-Grove

Headed to the University of Indianapolis, Sowa finished her stellar 4-year career at Cary-Grove behind only Claire Jakubicek and Olivia Jakubicek in scoring with 1,325 points. Sowa averaged a team-best 14.2 points per game, hitting 41 percent of her shots from the field and 70 percent at the line. Sowa also averaged 6.2 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.1 assists per game. She scored 15 points in both regional wins including the game-winning basket against Dundee-Crown with 37 seconds left to give the 19-11 Trojans a regional crown. "She has been a tremendous player and leader in our program her entire career," Cary-Grove coach Rod Saffert said. "She dedicated herself to becoming the best player she could become. Katie will forever be another prime example of what is possible when you have a dream and work hard to achieve it. She will be missed very much. I can't thank her enough for what she's done for our program."

Yssa Sto. Domingo St. Edward

While leading St. Edward to a second straight Metro Suburban Red championship, Sto. Domingo averaged 13.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.4 steals per game. The 5-foot-4 senior point guard finished her career with 990 career points. She earned the Metro Suburban Conference Red Division MVP. Will play college basketball at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. "Yssa is always willing to put in the extra time and effort to take her game to the next level and that success will follow her when she begins her college career," St. Edward coach Michelle Dawson said. "She is a leader on and off the court always encouraging her teammates. Yssa is a solid all-around player with her ability to score, pass to her teammates and disrupt her opponents with her tenacious defense."

Annie Tate St. Charles North

This 5-foot-9 junior forward was one of the area's breakout players, getting better throughout that season as evidenced by her 15-point scoring average over the final 17 games. The all-Upstate Eight River selection and all-tournament at Dundee-Crown averaged 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds a game while shooting 51.6 percent from the field and 65.4 percent at the line. Scored over 20 points four times including a career-best 27. Grabbed 90 offensive rebounds. "Fierce offensive rebounder," North Stars coach Mike Tomczak said. "Crashes the offensive glass harder than anyone in our conference. Finished the season as a dominant force in the paint and attacking the basket. Plays inside and outside, guards posts and wings."

Maddie Tripp Dundee-Crown

The 18-10 Chargers finished second in the Fox Valley Conference this season behind McHenry, and this 6-foot-2 senior center was in the middle of a balanced scoring attack with her average of 8 points a game. Made 54.9 percent of her shots from the field and grabbed 5.7 rebounds a game. Defense was Dundee-Crown's calling card, and Tripp did her part with 2.0 blocked shots per game. Unfortunately she tore her ACL late in the season and missed Dundee-Crown's regional. "She performed consistently throughout the season," Dundee-Crown coach Sarah Miller said. "She was a huge impact player. Maddie was that one player I felt a lot of teams had to prepare for being 6-2."

Jenni Weber Kaneland

After averaging 14.2 points and making All-Area on a Sweet 16 team as a junior, Weber upped her numbers to 16.8 points a game plus 4.3 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.3 assists for a Knights team that finished 25-5. That included a career-high 31 points in a win over Rochelle. MVP of Kaneland's title at Ottawa over Christmas. Unfortunately, an ankle injury sidelined her for the postseason. Weber set a school record with 80 3-point baskets while making 35 percent of her shots. Her 85 percent at the free-throw line also set the school mark. Will play at Bemidji State University. "She and Jamie (fellow senior all-area player Martens) set the bar high for our younger players," Kaneland coach Ernie Colombe said. "She's a big-time player and works hard in practice so she's able to make plays when the game's on the line."

Elana Wells Burlington Central

This 5-foot-7 freshman stepped in and took over the point guard position for the Rockets, leading her team to a Kishwaukee River Conference championship and 27-4 record. Wells averaged 12.4 points per game plus 3.2 steals, 2.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds. Made 44 shots from the 3-point arc and 69 percent of her free throws. "She is a kid that has played a lot," Burlington Central coach Mark Smith said. "She knows how to play, she knows how to use her body as a point guard which a lot of kids at that age don't. She's able to get some separation from her defender by using her body. That's something I've had seniors who can't do that."

Margaret Whitley Geneva

Headed to the University of Alabama-Birmingham, this 5-foot-9 senior guard led Geneva in scoring at 13.0 points a game and assists at 3.6. Also averaged 2.3 steals and 2.9 rebounds while hitting 83 percent of her free throws and 42 percent of her 3-point shots -- including a memorable 8 of 9 effort in a blowout win over Yorkville. A three-time All-Area selection, Whitley also hit eight 3s and scored 24 points in a sectional title win over Wheaton Warrenville South. Co-MVP of UEC River with teammate Stephanie Hart. "Marge is a gamer," Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. "She can take over a game at any point. She's a kid that's in the gym at 6 in the morning and will stay after practice until 6 at night. All of her success is from her hard work for sure."

Maddy Yelle Geneva

This 5-foot-9 senior forward who will play college basketball at Niagara played as good of on-ball defense as any player in the area. Averaged 8.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.5 assists a game while shooting 45.4 percent from the field and 75.7 percent at the line. "I love to tell Maddy she's the sickest athlete I've ever seen," Geneva coach Sarah Meadows said. "She just has an ability you don't see too often. She can do a lot of different things and makes all those things look extremely easy. Huge for us defensively."

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the X in the upper right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.